Building brick or block



March 2s, 1999. T. Q RMDy 2,151,798`

BUILDING BRICK OR BLOCK l Filed June 8, 1937 2`Sheets-Sheet 2 F; ,4 F1. 4a FJ 34 53 fJ'/55a 5g @-5 34 Enum: mgm 35 :LEI:

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

yThis invention relates to building bricks or blocks and particularly devices of this kind of the hollow and load bearing type which are primarily adapted for use in the construction of complete walls or as outer facing, brick, block,

or tile, and the object of the invention is to pro? vide a brick or block of the class described which is molded, extruded, or otherwise formed to provide in the resulting brick a plurality of chambers or compartments extending therethrough, and subdivided by cleavages to 'permit the subdivision of a complete brick unit into a plurality of brick sections in accordance with the teachings in my prior Patent No. 2,086,989, issued Julyy 13, 1937, of which this application constitutes a continuation in part; a further object being to provide a brick unit wherein the several brick sections thereof may be in a series of sections of even dimensions or of odd dimensions, or still further, of even and odd dimensions, thus adapting the brick units to the construction of walls having any kind or class of regular or running bond, or of special or irregular bonds as well asin adapting the brick unit to the construction of the various kinds and classes of special bricks or blocks required in the formation of a complete wall around the windows and doors of a building and in forming corner wall structures as well as chambers or compartments extending. through v*the walls; a further object being to provide a brick unit of the class described wherein at least three side surfaces thereof are finished in any desired manner adapting them to the nish of the resulting wall to be formed, and wherein the remaining side wall is scored, grooved, or otherwise constructed to provide means for anchoring 0r adhering the same to an inner wall surface or in the application of surface facings thereto, such for example as plastering; a still further object being to provide a brick unit of the class described -wherein a number of the cleavage or keried portions of the unit are eliminated to control and regulate the subdivision of the unit into brick sections of predetermined irregular contour, and with these and other objects in View, the invention consists in a brick unit o-f the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, and which is constructed as more 'fully hereinafter described and claimed.

'I'he invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which;

Fig. 1 is a perspective View diagrammatically illustrating the construction of a part of a wall from one of my improved brick units.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view diagrammatically illustrating the use of the brick units in forming 5. beam-fillers and seats.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of one type of b-rick unit which I employ showing odd-odd arrangement of chambers.

Fig. 3a is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing only 10 a part-of the construction and showing a modied arrangement. f

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but showing a block of odd-even arrangement. y

Fig. 4a is a View similar to Fig. 4 showing a 15 modification.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a different arrangement of odd-even sections in the brick unit.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 show- 20 ing a block unit of the even-even construction.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but sho-wing an irregular arrangement of brick sections in a brick unit, and

Fig. 8 shows several views of a few of a number of methods of forming beam-seats of sections of the brick units employed.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for illustrative purposes a few different types of brick units in Figs. 3 to '7 inclusive simply to 30 demonstrate the fundamental and basic principles of my invention, and while some of these units are made up of 3-3 series of brick sections and 4-4 series as in Fig. 6, it will be understood that any desired series or arrangement of 35 the series of sections may be provided depending largely upon the over-al1 dimensions of the building unit to be formed.

The height or vertical dimensions of each unit may, of course, be made to suit various standards 40 commonly employed, whereas the width or depth of the brick may be made to suit the wall thickness to be formed if a single brick is to be employed, in which event the dimensions would be from 8" upward. The same may be true of the 45 length of the brick which may be made from 10 upward Vunless the brick unit is composed of smaller sizes.

It will also be apparent that the sizes of the respective brick sections in each unit may be in 50 the even number series such. as 2", 4, 6", or in odd number series such as 3, 5, 7, etc. On the other hand, a combination of the even and odd series may also be employed.

In referring herein to the odd and even ar- 55 rangement in the different brick units, it will be understood that this reference does not mean as to dimensional sizes, but rather to a difference in dimension. That is to say, for example, in Fig. 6 all of the brick sections are of the same dimensions, therefore are all even, but each section may be of an even number or odd number size, whereas in Fig. 4 each brick section of the unit is of the same dimension in one direction, whereas the brick sections are of different dimensions in the other direction, which gives the odd-even combination. In Fig. 3 the sections are of odd arrangement in both directions.

For purposes of illustration it can be assumed that the brick units I employed in the construction of the wall as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings are of a width, 12" length and any suitable height, say for example 6". A regular bonding will be provided, in the manner diagrammatically illustrated, by recessing corner blocks ma as indicated at II along the cleavage or kerf line provided, so as to leave a 6 face I2 exposed at the right side of the corner I3, and a 12" face I4 at the left side thereof, the 2" portion l5 formed by the recess I I overlapping the inner surface of the next adjacent full block IU which extends to the right. The next lower block Ib is simply reversed to the block Illa so that the surface I2a extends to the left, and the surface Ida extends to the right. These corner blocks are alternated in the construction `of the corner of the wall. In this connection it will be understood, however, that other methods of interlocking may be provided.

In forming the door opening IB it will appear that the blocks I0 are cut to form 4 sections I1 and 8" sections I8 which are alternately arranged one upon the other in order to maintain the proper bonding arrangement in the manner illustrated at the right of Fig. l of the drawings, and other closer sections I'Ia, I8a, may also be employed which will be 2 and 10 in dimensions respectively.

In forming window openings I9 as seen at the left of Fig. 1 of the drawings in theposition indicated, a block is shaped by the cleavage or kerng means provided to form what may be termed a full-jamb block, whereas the block 2| is fashioned to form a half-jamb block to provide the` necessary recess 22 for the window frame as will be apparent. In this connection it will be understood that the blocks I'I, I'Ia, and I8, I8a, are commonly referred to as closers. In other words, blocks which close recesses that would otherwise be formed in a conventional or standard bonding.

At this time it will be understood that any of the brick or block units employed may be cut or subdivided along many irregular lines to form various types and kinds of closers as well as various types and kinds of jamb blocks including what are known as stretchers, easement lintels, flashing blocks, pipe chases, beam seats, beam fillers, lintels, sills, etc. It is understood that the location of the various recesses, compartments or the like in the wall, will govern the particular contour at which the block will be formed, and by reason of the structure of my improved block, the same will more or less universally adapt itself to the formation of such openings or chambers and thus eliminate the construction of special blocks or bricks for this purpose as has been the conventional practice. In other words, it is one of the principal features of my invention to provide a single brick or block unit which may be used throughout in the construction of all of the walls of a building except where it is desirable to provide round or other than right angular corners, in which case special blocks will be provided for this purpose.

At this time it will also be apparent that other odd shapes of blocks can be constructed according to my invention where the architect may call for the same. This is also true with respect to the particular type and kind of facing which may be specified.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings I have diagrammatically illustrated a method of utilizing the brick or block units in forming beam seats and beam llers. In this construction the chambers or compartments of the bricks or blocks are arranged horizontally rather than vertically as in the general use of the brick units. In Fig. 2 of the drawings I have shown at 23 a series of thin sections which form seats for the beams as indicated by dot and dash lines at 24, Whereas at 23a are shown the llers which are disposed at opposite sides of each beam. Another view of this construction is illustrated at the left of Fig. 8 of the drawings. In this figure it will be noted that a full block 23h is arranged upon the upper surface of the beam 24. A reversal of this construction is shown at the right of Fig. 8 wherein the block 23h is disposed below the beam, and the block section 23 equivalent in size to the thin seats 23 is used upon the upper surface of the beam 24. In other words, in this arrangement the block 23h in its entirety forms a seat. An intermediate position of the beam is shown centrally of Fig. 8 in which the beam 24 is resting upon a thicker seat 23o, and a block 23d smaller than the blocks 23h is disposed upon the upper surface of the beam 24. In this connection it will be understood that varying thicknesses of seat blocks or block sections may be used by subdividing the block unit at different points so as to provide the desired height or location of the beam in the construction of a building.

Again considering Fig. 2 of the drawings it Will be understood that the wall proper is constructed of full size blocks 25 whereas narrower blocks 25a are arranged outwardly of the ller blocks 23a and the seats 23 as will be apparent. In this connection it will be understood that in the view shown at the left of Fig. 8 a full width block similar to the blocks 25 may be used in place of the block 23h and the block 25a, whereas in the other two view's, the full size blocks will be disposed upon the combination blocks which are shown above the upper surface of the beams 24.

It will be understood that the diagrammatic illustrations in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings are to illustrate the application and use of the several types of brick or block units, such for example, as those shown in Figs. 3 to '7 inclusive, and therefore no chambers or compartments or cleavages are shown in the diagrammatic illustrations in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown at 26 one type of block unit which I may employ which, for the purpose of classification, will be known as an odd-odd block unit by reason of the fact that large compartments 2'! extend lengthwise and crosswise of the block unit as well as small chambers or compartments 28. Intermediate the large and small chambers or compartments 2'I-28, are formed longitudinal kerf or cleavage lines 29 and transverse kerf or cleavage lines 30, so that the unit block 26 may be divided into block sections containing one of the chambers 21, one of the chambers 28, as well as all of the possible combinations which would include two, three, or more of the respective block or brick sections so as to form the various types and kinds of blocks heretofore listed and referredfto.

`It will also be apparent that the block or brick sections formed by severing the unit 26 along the cleavage lines 29-33 may Vhave dimensions in even or odd numbers, that is to say in multiples of 2" or in the o'dd series of 3", 5", 7 etc. On the other hand a combination of the even and odd dimensions may be incorporated depending' entirely upon the use to which the block is to be applied. It will also be apparent that while the unit 26 is shown rectangular in form, it may be oblong in form; that is to say, be of greater length and width. For example, if the unit 26 is l2 by l2" as shown., it may be made 12" by 14, 12" by 16, or 12. by 18, assuming that the block is of the even number design.

In F'ig. 3a of the drawings I have shown a slight modification of the structure shown in Fig. 3, wherein the block 26a is of the same length as the block 26. In other words, it is provided with two chambers 21a or two chambers 28a similar to the chambers 21 and 28, whereas transversely of the block unit there is only one oi the chambers 28a and two of the chambers 21a, which would mean that if the block 26 was 12" by 12l then the block 26a would be 12" long and 10 Wide, the 2 section formed by the missing chambers 28a producing the smaller size block consisting of the two 4 sections. and the v one 2" section transversely of the unit 26a. With this construction cleavages 29a and 30a are em.-

ployed.

At this time attention is directed to the fact that while all of the outer surfaces of the block may be'iinished in one manner, it is preferred that only three of said surfaces be iinished to form the'outer surface of the wall and the fourth surface by roughened, grooved, or otherwise fashioned to provide the necessary ancho-ring on the inner surface of the completed Wall for adhering two or more bricks or brick sections together, or in the application of plaster and other iinished Vsurfacings to the inner surfaces of the completed Wall. This is true of the other forms of block units later described. It will also be apparent that all outer surfaces may be roughened, groo-ved or scored.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I have shown what may be termed an odd-even block unit 32 wherein large compartments 33 and small compartments 34 are arranged longitudinally of the block, and the several compartments 33-34 are of the same dimensions transversely of the block. In the case of a rectangular block 12" by 12" in dimensions, the sections formed by the three large transversecompartments 33 or vthe three small transverse compartments. 34, will measure i2", Whereas the two largeI and two small longitudinal compartments Will also total 12". With this construction the unit 32 is divisible into the many different block sections on the longitudinal4 cleavages 35 and transverse,

cleavages 36.

It will also be apparent that in some instances the common dimensions of the compartments in the respective brick sections may extend longitudinally of the odd arrangement transversely depending entirely upon thefrequirements in the construction of a wall, but in any event, an oddeven arrangement is provided.

In Fig. 4o' I have shown a slight modification of the structure shown in Fig.V 4 in which the block 32a is of the same general arrangement as that shown in Fig. 4, the only diierence being that some of the cleavages 35a are omitted through the web portions 3l. In Fig. 4a. the transverse cleavages are shown at 36a, and 33a and 33a designate the compartments in the large and small brick sections.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings I have shown at 38 another adaptation of the structure shown in Figs. 4 and 4a, in which iigure the even sized large compartments 39 are arranged longitudinally of the block, and the compartments. 39 are rectangular, whereas other large compartments dil are oblong in form, or in other words, are of greater width than length. Arranged intermediate the compartments 39, 40, are thinner compartments 4|. With this construction the unit 38 may be divided into several brick sections containing the respective compartments 33, til, 4l, or a combination thereof, and the longitudinal cleavage lines 42 and the transverse cleavage lines 43.`V

At this time it will be apparent that the cleavage lines in all cases vextend in the direction oi the outer surfaces of the unit a greater degree than the chambers or compartments so as to form weakened wall portions where the cleavages are arranged to facilitate the breaking up of the unit into the several sections. This may be done by any suitable hand tool or may be cut by a carborundum saw. It will also appear that the cleavages consist of thin passages which will provide for the free breaking up of the block unit into the respective sections.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings I have shown for illustrative purposes. a combination of the odd and even brick sections.. In other words, the

sections, containing the chambers 39, will be of' 3 dimensions whereas the sections 40 will be of a3 by fi dimension and the sections tl a 3 by 2 dimension, thus producing a block 9 by 12". However, many other possible combinations may be made as will be apparent.

In Fig. 6 or" the drawings. I have shown a block -which may be termed the even-even unit 44. In

this construction, all of the chambers 45 are o the same dimensions so as to form, on the 12 scale, 3 brick sections by subdivision of theunit M on the longitudinal cleavages 46 and transverse cleavages 1li. At this time attention is also directed to the fact that with all of the brick or block units employed in the various oddodd, odd-even, and even-even combinations, one or more complete transverse or longitudinal line of sections may be added or remo-ved. To illus-k trate this point, one longitudinal series of sections in Fig. 6 may be removed which would produce a b-lock l2" long and 9V wide, whereas one transverse series: may be removed to produce a block 9" long and 12 wide, and by adding a series in the other direction the dimensions would be increased to 15" if similar sized sections were added. On the other hand, if 2 sections were added, the block would be increased to 14, whereas if 4" sections were added, the block would be increased to 16", etc.

In Fig. 'l of the drawings I have shown at 48 another possible combination of brick sections in a complete unit wherein, for example, one longitudinal series of sections will havecompartments 43 of the same dimensions, another longitudinal series of sections will have larger compartments 53 of the same dimensions, whereas the inter- .fil

mediate row of sections will have compartments 49a similar to the compartments 49 and com partments 5I, which are larger than the cornpartments 49, but smaller than the compartments 50. With this construction only one continuous cleavage 52 is provided longitudinally of the block unit for subdividing the sections containing the compartments 49. rIwo short outer cleavages 52a, are employed longitudinally of the unit for removing the sections containing the compartments 49a, whereas the webs 53 between the sections having the compartments 5i, and the adjacent sections having the compartments 50, are not weakened with cleavage openings and therefore are not designed to be severed one from the other. However, the block unit may be divided transversely by continuous cleavages 54. With this construction, and assuming that the unit 48 is 12 by 12, the sections containing the chambers 49 will be 3" by 3", whereas the sections containing the chambers 50 will be 3" by 6" excepting for the sections containing the intermediate chambers 5l, which will be 3 in width and 9" in length.

In connection with the several brick units which I employ it may be said that each of the cleavage lines consistA of a series of cleavages or breaking points which permit the removal of predetermined sections of the block unit to form the various special types of blocks heretofore named.

A brick unit such as shown at 48 in Fig. 7 of the drawings, is of a more or less special design, but may be utilized in the construction of the complete wall of a building and in the formation of the necessary types and kinds of blocks required in the construction of the walls of such building. Of course a block of this type does not have the wide range of subdivisions that would be possible with the block units shown in the other gures. This is also true to some degree with respect to the block shown in Fig. 4a.

In addition to the variation in block construction such as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, it will be apparent that blocks may be formed wherein certain of the sections are solid in construction rather than having the chambers or compartments therein. It will also be apparent that the blocks may be constructed of any desired casting or molding material in the many known processes and may be of the cinder, gypsum, glass, cement, or other types including various kinds and classes of facings. It will also be apparent that in addition to using the bricks or blocks in the construction of a complete wall, the same may be used as facing bricks or blocks. Still further, it will be understood that with certain types of the brick units employed, the chambers or compartments in the respective sections thereof, in arranging said brick units and sections in a standard or regular bonding, will form natural chambers or conduits through the wall through which pipes, wires, and other building accessories may pass in addition to forming natural insulation chambers for moistureproong a wall as well as to thoroughly insulate the same.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A building brick unit comprising a hollow body of predetermined length, width, and height, the outer surfaces of said body being nished throughout, said body having a plurality of longitudinal and a plurality of transverse cleavage lines for dividing the unit into independent brick sections arranged transversely and longitudinally of said unit, each of said sections having at least one chamber extending therethrough, and the cleavage lines being formed by narrow passages extending into the outer walls of said unit a greater degree than the chambers or openings formed in said unit to form freely breaking lines longitudinally and transversely of said unit.

2. A building brick unit comprising a hollow body of predetermined length, width, and height, the outer surfaces of said body being finished throughout, said body having a plurality of longitudinal and a plurality of transverse cleavage lines for dividing the unit into independent brick sections arranged transversely and longitudinally of said unit, each of said sections having at least one chamber extending therethrough, the cleavage lines being formed by narrow passages extending into the outer walls of said unit a greater degree than the chambers or openings formed in said unit to form` freely breaking lines longitudinally and transversely of said unit, and the brick sections of said unit being of odd dimensions longitudinally and transversely of said unit.

3. A building brick unit comprising a hollow body of predetermined length, width, and height, the outer surfaces of said body being finished throughout, said body having a plurality of longitudinal and a plurality of transverse cleavage lines for dividing the unit into independent brick sections arranged transversely and longitudinab ly of said unit, each of said sections having at least one chamber extending therethrough, the cleavage lines `being formed by narrow passages extending into the outer walls of said unit a greater degree than the chambers or openings formed in said unit to form freely breaking lines longitudinally and transversely of said unit, and the brick sections of said unit being of even di mensions transversely and longitudinally of said unit.

4. A building brick unit comprising a hollow body of predetermined length, width, and height, the outer surfaces of said body being finished throughout, said body having a plurality of longitudinal and a plurality of transverse cleavage lines for dividing the unit into independent brick sections arranged transversely and longitudinally of said unit, each of said sections having at least one chamber extending therethrough, the cleavage lines being formed by narrow passages extending into the outer walls of said unit a greater degree than the chambers or openings formed in said unit to form freely breaking lines longitudinally and transversely of said unit, and the brick sections of said unit transversely and longitudinally being of even dimensions in one direction and oi' odd dimensions in the opposite direction.

5. A building brick unit of the class described comprising a hollow body of predetermined di-l mensions throughout, the outer surfaces of said body being finished, said body being divided by spaced longitudinal webs and spaced transverse webs to form between the webs and the outer walls of said body, longitudinally and transversely spaced chambers, predetermined webs of said body being recessed to form cleavage lines for subdividing the body into separate brick sections each containing at least one of said chambers, and the outer wall structure of said body being weaker Where the cleavage lines are located to facilitate subdivision of the unit into said brick sections.

Uly

6. A building brick unit of the class described comprising a hollow body of predetermined dimensions throughout, the outer surfaces of said body being nished, said body being divided by spaced longitudinal webs and spaced transverse Webs to form between the Webs and the outer walls of said body, longitudinally and transversely spaced chambers, predetermined Webs of said body being recessed to form cleavage lines for subdividing the body into separate brick sections each containing at least one of said chambers, the outer Wall structure of said body being weaker Where the cleavage lines are located to facilitate subdivision of'the unit into said brick sections, and the dimensions of successive brick sections extending in one direction through said unit, being equal.

'7. A building brick unit of the class described comprising a hollow body of predetermined dimensions throughout, the outer surfaces of said body being finished, said body being divided by spaced longitudinal Webs and spaced transverse Webs to form between the Webs and the outer Walls of said body, longitudinally and transversely spaced chambers, predetermined webs of said body being recessed to form cleavage lines for subdividing the body into separate brick sections each containing at least one of said chambers, the outer Wall structure of said body being Weaker Where the cleavage lines are located to facilitate subdivision of the unit into said brick sections, the dimensions of successive brick sections extending in one directionthrough said unit, being equal, and the dimensions of successive brick sections in the opposite direction, being irregular.

THOMAS O. RAAD. 

